White flowers glow against the Kerama blue as the harlequin glorybowers start to bloom in Tokashiki

White flowers glow against the Kerama blue as the harlequin glorybowers start to bloom in Tokashiki

A harlequin glorybower’s aromatic flowers popping against the background of the blue kerama sea. August 6, Tokashiki


August 10, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Special Correspondent Hideaki Yoneda

Tokashiki – With summer reaching its peak, the harlequin glorybower (part of the Lamiaceae family) can be seen full bloom. The flower grows from the island lowlands to up in the mountains, and are often seen lining the streets and hiking trails, pleasing the eyes of the people who pass through with their sweet, white flowers.

The large deciduous shrub can be found anywhere from southern Kyushu and throughout Okinawa, growing anywhere from 2-5 meters, and is sometimes referred to as kusabagi (smelly leaf tree) in Okinawa. In summer, the base of the leaves and ends of branches bloom many small, white, fragrant flowers that look like propellers in a cyme flower cluster, and the leaves grow in a triangular oval. The leaves can be eaten in tempura dishes or served with fish cooked in miso. The flowers can be seen in bloom until around September.
(English translation by T&CT and Sam Grieb)

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